A Historic Youth World Championship in Porto
Almost 300 young breakers gathered this past Thirsday 28th in Matosinhos, Portugal, for what will be remembered as a historic World Championship. This milestone event offered a powerful platform of visibility for the new generation of athletes who aspire to shine at the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026 and who already dream of chasing the Olympic rings at Brisbane 2032.
A Format for the Future
The Championship opened with a Pre-selection round, where four athletes entered the cypher together and danced a single round. From there, judges selected the Top 64 who would move forward.
With such a large number of entries, the day began with two circles running simultaneously – one for B-Girls and one for B-Boys. The Top 64 and Top 32 were contested in face-off format, with each battle decided by rounds won, or in the case of a 1-1 tie, by majority of judges’ votes. From the Top 16, battles were decided in best-of-3 rounds, often requiring thrilling tie-breakers, and reaching the final phases of Semifinals, Bronze battles and Finals, were the format switches to three rounds.
Already at this stage, the level of talent and experience displayed was astonishing, proving once again that the new wave of youth breakers is far beyond their years in maturity and creativity.
You can rewatch the Top 32 and Top 16 battles now on our YouTube channel.
Quarterfinals: The Stage of Rising Stars
B-Girls
- Royal (CHN) def. Mini Ali (CHN) 3–0 (9–0, 9–0, 9–0)
Royal showed once again why she is the reigning World Games champion, dominating with flawless musicality, difficulty, and execution. Her authority on stage left little doubt that she was the one to beat. - Hiyo (JPN) def. 7G (JPN) in extra round (7–2, 4–5, 7–2)
A thrilling all-Japanese clash that needed a tie-break. Both breakers pushed each other to the limit, but Hiyo’s sharp control and precision secured her a narrow victory. - Hio (JPN) def. Krazy (USA) in extra round (3–6, 5–4, 9–0)
Krazy came alive in the second round to even the battle, but Hio stepped up with a decisive performance in the tie-break, proving the depth and consistency of the Japanese scene. - c-change (CHN) def. Lola (ESP) 2–0 (5–4, 5–4)
Spain’s Lola, cheered loudly by the crowd, delivered two strong rounds but fell short by the slimmest of margins. c-change’s steadiness and clean execution pushed her into the semifinals.
B-Boys
- Purple One (CHN) def. Ren Ren (JPN) in extra round (6–3, 0–9, 7–2)
A classic China–Japan showdown. Ren Ren took the second round convincingly, but Purple One regained momentum in the decider with sharper transitions and flow. - Holy Rain (CHN) def. Littleman (POL) in extra round (5–4, 0–9, 9–0)
One of the battles of the tournament. Poland’s Littleman stunned with an explosive entrance at the first round, but Holy Rain came back in style, showing why he is considered among the best, with impossible acrobatics that rocked the arena. - TJR (CHN) def. Saturn (TPE) 2–0 (7–2, 8–1)
TJR displayed commanding power and musical control, overwhelming Saturn and closing the door quickly to move into the semifinals. - Lukas (ESP) def. Yizhu (CHN) 2–0 (7–2, 5–4)
Lukas, backed by a large Spanish crowd presence in Porto, edged out Yizhu with charisma and rhythm. His victory against the strong Chinese contender was one of the emotional highlights of the day.
Semifinals: Battles for the Finals
B-Girls
- Royal (CHN) def. Hiyo (JPN) 2–1 (9–0–, 9–0, 5-4)
A rematch of their recent Asian Championship final, but this time there was no doubt. Royal dominated the first two rounds with her trademark flow, musicality, and powerful transitions. In the third, Hiyo pushed back with everything she had, making it the closest round of the battle, but Royal still edged it by a single vote to seal a flawless 3–0 victory. - c-change (CHN) def. Hio (JPN) 2–1 (6–3, 7–2, 3–6)
A clash of contrasting styles that delivered fireworks. c-change set the tone with clean, powerful rounds, while Hio fought back with explosive creativity. In the end, c-change sealed the victory in two tight rounds, securing China a guaranteed gold and silver in the final.
B-Boys
- Holy Rain (CHN) def. Purple One (CHN) 2–1 (5–4, 3–6, 8–1)
An all-China showdown filled with drama and showmanship. Purple One delivered strong foundational rounds, but Holy Rain stole the spotlight with humor, playing with slow-motion effects and teasing his opponent before unleashing spectacular acrobatics. The crowd erupted as Holy Rain took the decider, advancing to the final in unforgettable fashion. - TJR (CHN) def. Lukas (ESP) 3–0 (9–0, 6–3, 8–1)
Lukas, coming off a grueling quarterfinal, gave everything he had but showed signs of fatigue and a lingering injury. TJR capitalized, delivering explosive one-handed power moves and seamless musicality. With a clean sweep of three rounds, TJR secured his place in the final.
Bronze Battle – B-Girls
- Hio (JPN) def. Hiyo (JPN) 2–1 (5–4, 1–8, 9–0)
A clash between two close compatriots who know each other well. Hio took the first round narrowly before Hiyo struck back with a dominant second. In the decider, Hio rose to the occasion with a powerful set that sealed the Bronze medal. Both breakers showed respect and deep understanding of each other’s style, closing their battle with mutual admiration.
Bronze Battle – B-Boys
- Purple One (CHN) def. Lukas (ESP) 3–0 (8–1, 5–4, 7–2)
With the local crowd heavily backing their Spanish neighbor, Lukas gave everything despite showing signs of fatigue from earlier rounds. Purple One, however, proved too strong, winning all three rounds with consistency and dynamic flow. Lukas’s spirit and charisma won the audience’s heart, while Purple One secured the Bronze and completed People’s Republic of China’s sweep of the B-Boys podium.
Finals: A Showcase of Dominance
B-Girls Final
- Royal (CHN) def. c-change (CHN) 3–0 (9–0, 9–0, 9–0)
A spectacular display of authority. Royal proved once again that she is in a league of her own, delivering three flawless rounds that underlined her unique combination of musicality, power, and stage presence. c-change fought bravely, but Royal’s supremacy was absolute, leaving no room for doubt as she claimed the World Championship crown.
B-Boys Final
- Holy Rain (CHN) def. TJR (CHN) 3–0 (8–1, 9–0, 8–1)
An epic battle between teammates that lit up the arena. Holy Rain showcased incredible variety and creativity, at one point playing again with slow-motion effects and tempo changes before delivering explosive powermoves that had the crowd roaring. TJR pushed hard with explosive acrobatics as well, but Holy Rain’s mix of charisma, control, and innovation carried the day. With the audience on their feet, Holy Rain sealed the title and completed an unforgettable clean sweep for People's Republic of China in Porto.
In the end, People's Republic of China swept all four Gold and Silver Medals, plus the Bronze in B-Boys – a demonstration of depth and dominance on the global youth stage.
You can relive the Top 8 onwards exclusively on Olympic Channel.
Acknowledgments
The WDSF warmly thanks The World Battle, MXM Crew, and of course the Olympic Channel for making this unforgettable event possible.
This World Championship in Porto will be remembered not only as a competition of records, but as a defining moment in the journey towards Dakar 2026 and beyond. The future of Breaking has never looked brighter.
“This Championship in Porto will be remembered as a turning point for our sport. More than 300 young athletes showed the world that Breaking has a brilliant future, and that the Olympic dream is alive in every single one of them. What we witnessed here will resonate all the way to Dakar 2026 and Brisbane 2032.”
— Shawn Tay, WDSF President
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The World Championship in Matosinhos, Portugal was more than a competition – it was history in motion on the road to Dakar 2026 and Brisbane 2032.
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Discover the future stars of Breaking and relive the magic of Matosinhos! Photos by Susana Luzir.
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